Some of the hardest water in America can be found in the Southwest. It’s also loaded with minerals that can adversely affect pipes, plumbing fixtures, cleaning, bathing and of course, taste of drinking water. It isn’t dangerous water, but it’s not the cleanest either. Much of the water in the United States is considered hard.The life of dishwashers, water heaters, faucets and pipes can be shortened considerably by hard water. The harder the water, the grayer laundry may appear, and the more soaps and detergents will be needed to clean clothes and wash hair and skin. It’s just part of life in the desert with harder water.Get a free water softener estimate from Apache Junction Plumber here: https://www.apachejunctionplumber.com/water-softeners.htmlInstalling a water softener system reduces the need for soap and other cleaners. Hair, skin, and clothing are soft and clean. Plumbing and plumbing fixtures no longer become encrusted with hard water mineralization.How A Water Softener System WorksHere is where things get nerdy-technical: Water softening is usually achieved using lime softening or ion-exchange resins.Calcium and magnesium ions in water switch places with sodium ions. A very small amount of sodium is added to your water in this process.The ion exchange takes place inside a tank of small plastic beads referred to as the resin. The negatively charged beads are first bonded to positively charged sodium ions. As water comes into your house and flows past the beads, the sodium ions change places with the calcium and magnesium ions.When the resin is exhausted, the softener regenerates and exchanges the calcium and magnesium ions for sodium. All excess sodium chloride is rinsed out at the end of the regeneration process which usually happens at night.Water softener systems usually have two tanks. One tank holds the resin beads; the other has to be refilled every two to three months with salt (pellets or coarse) that you can purchase at a grocery or hardware store.Other water softening system use nanofiltration or reverse osmosis membranes.Already have a water softener system? Apache Junction Plumber offers expert repair services and can assist with other plumbing related needs as well. Call 480-588-0700 or visit the website for more information: https://www.apachejunctionplumber.com/water-softeners.html